Addressing a press conference, SDPI President E. Abubacker said after the party's two-day National Working Committee (NWC) meeting that concluded here on Sunday that women leaders associated with the party and delegates of Muslims and other minorities, OBCs, Dalits, STs and other communities from various parts of the country would participate in the demonstration.
The NWC meeting was presided over by Abubacker. Advocate Sajid Siddiqui, vice president of the party, welcomed the NWC members, while A. Sayeed, general secretary, presented the secretary's report.
Abubacker said that after the conclusion of the dharna a delegation of the participants would meet the President Pratibha Singh Patil and present her a memorandum demanding her not to give assent to the bill unless a provision is made in it for sub-quota for women of all weaker sections of the country.
This protest demonstration is a prelude to the national campaign of the party on the issue that would be held in the coming September, he added.
Abubacker said, the bill would further set the already inadequate representation of Muslims in the Indian parliament back.
Abubacker said that it is strange that the parties who are championing the cause for women's reservation in the legislature fail to give 33 percent representation to women in their own rank and file.
